My Lords, I have already announced to the House the dates of the Christmas Recess: the House will rise at the close of Business on Wednesday 22 December and return on Monday 10 January 2011. I am now in a position to announce Recess dates up to the next Christmas, in December 2011. I appreciate that I am about to give rather more information about dates than is usually possible. To save noble Lords from reaching for their diaries, they might like to know that a full note is already available in the Printed Paper Office.
The dates are as follows. The House will rise for the February half-term at the close of business on Wednesday 16 February and return on Monday 28 February. The House will rise for Easter at the close of business on Wednesday 6 April and return on Tuesday 26 April. The House will rise for Whitsun at the close of business on Wednesday 25 May and return on Monday 6 June. The House will rise for the summer at the close of business on Wednesday 20 July. There will be a September Sitting in 2011. The House will return on Monday 5 September and rise at the close of business on Thursday 15 September. The House will then return on Monday 10 October. Finally, the House will rise for Christmas at the close of business on Wednesday 21 December 2011 and return on Tuesday 10 January 2012. As ever, Recess dates are subject to the progress of business.